Luxol turn game around in the last session

Caffe Moak Luxol 63 Starlites Naxxar 57 (7-10, 20-24, 10-9, 26-14)

Luxol had to chase their adversaries for quite some time into the last session of play before they take a lead. They lost it twice more but they had the last laugh with their second victory as they are now in front on wins after losing out in the first encounter.

Starlites had a notable absentee in this match playing without Samantha Farrugia.

Starlites didn’t last the pace and the champions wily enough took advantage to open up a good enough lead and prevent their opponents from doing any late damage.

Starlites had the opening lead as Patricia Arguello sank a triple. Paula Ellul did the same for Luxol and tied the score but Arguello came up with more points and a second trey as Starlites were once more in front.

In the next period, it was Luxol’s turn with triples. Mandi Mercieca Steffi DeMartino and Ellul again made their treys but Starlites were making points of their own to hold on to their advantage and Kirsty Galea also netted a triple in a 9-2 run as her side drew away from the champions. Mercieca netted a second triple for the Violets as her side went close again but a Jean Doughty last second triple had Starlites on a 34-27 advantage at the interval.

After the break, Luxol came out in earnest with a 7-0 run to wipe off their deficit. Starlites rolled their sleeves up and made a 7-0 run of their own with Galea and Jaelle Micallef points.

Luxol made their reply but so did Starlites as they went into the last quarter on a 43-37 lead. Ellul sank a third Luxol triple with Arguello and galea making Starlites treys for a better lead.

Luxol pressed further and made up a 9-0 run with a third Mercieca trey but their first lead of the match was rubbed off with a Kim Pirotta trey for Starlites.

Both sides were once more ahead until the champions jolted their opponents with a 10-0 run which floored Starlites as they had no answer except for an Arguello hoop seconds from the end when the game was over for her team.

Luxol are a game ahead and today they could stake a place in the final to defend the title which they have won for the last three seasons.

Luxol: S. Pace 3, M. Mercieca 15, A. Munir 9, I. Baena Medina, S. DeMartino 19, K. Portelli, C. Sollami, P. Ellul 15, L. Caruana Montaldo, M. Darmanin, C. Curmi 2

Starlites: K. Galea 13, J. Doughty 3, D. Revol, K. Pirotta 3, J. Micallef 2, J. Grima 5, P. Arguello 25, E. Magrin, S. Davis 2, A. Lupo 4

Referees: G. Barbara, E. Mangani, M. Rajczi